Smith
is thrilled to see his old club finally on the right road after years off the beaten track – even if he no longer hears the sound of the cash till ringing.

He said: “When Aberdeen were regularly competing in cup semi-finals and finals the fans would go down to Glasgow in their thousands.

“There used be lots of buses stopping at my restaurant in Stirling. The place was packed.

“It was great for business! It’s a shame I don’t have the place any more because it looks like Aberdeen are getting back to that level again after the weekend.

“It is fantastic for the club and their supporters to be back in a final after all these years.

“It’s been far too long but it is exciting to see a strong Aberdeen competing for silverware.

“People talk about the Sir Alex Ferguson years and they were hugely successful times and the best period in the club’s history.

“But
even after that, Aberdeen were used to being in semi-finals and finals,
and lifting trophies. It was expected of myself, Willie Miller and Roy Aitken to get the club to that stage regularly and we managed to do that.

“Cup finals were the norm for a very long time and it’s hard for fans who are used to success when it suddenly stops.

“It is great to see them back and they have a great chance of lifting the League Cup.”

McInnes has re-energised Aberdeen. The new arrivals have helped shake off the losers’ tag but it’s the old guard Smith is even more thrilled for.

He
said: “I am delighted for the fans but also for the lads who have been at the club a long time – Jamie Langfield, Russell Anderson and Andy Considine.

“Langfield and Considine have been through years of pain and getting to a cup final will be all the more significant for them.”